Table Choices and your preference

Hi fellow cruisers,

I was reading another thread somewhere about table sizes and which size people thought were best. So I thought I would post here and get some Aussie opinions since this seems to be the only section Aussie's congragate in!!

Which table size do you prefer, 4, 6 ,8 or 10 and why??

I have had a 10 on one cruise and a 6 on the other. I found the 10 to be the best!!

In fact we had so much fun we looked forward to dinner everynight and were one of the last tables to leave each night, by the second night we were laughing and joking like old friends.

Now I have read in other forums that people dont like to eat with people they dont know and prefer personal choice dinning (something I'm glad isnt happening in Aus). I think Aussie's in general like the tarditional dinning and enjoy it, probably something to do with the our great way of life and how everyone seems to become "mate" after 5 minutes.

So give me your opinions and reasons why??

Cheers,

Dan

Hi there

We are virgin cruisers, we have been agonising over first or second seating, having changed our preference 3 times.

We have booked a table of 8, recommended by TA & after reading all the threads this seems to be a good size. It's a real concern if you get stuck with people you don't like.

I think 10 is too big and could be noisy and difficult to hear. 2 & 4 is too small, not that we have to meet people but we think it would be nice to meet some people.

I will read with interest the replies.

Are you cruising again soon?

 

Are you cruising again soon?

Hi Maxx,

With any luck Jan 8 on Pacific Sun for 10 nights...

Still waiting on holiday approval from management...

This will be the longest cruise I've done as usually I do the 3/4 nighters. So I'm keen to see if I can keep up the non stop partying I've come to expect from cruises for 10 nights. Which also has me concerned as me and my brother (who I've cruised with twice before) managed to rack up a $1500 bar bill in 2 nights last time on the sky for his birthday..

But as they say, let the good times roll!!

As for first or second we ate second both times (no kids, this time my brother is bringing his 10yo son) and we had a ball, we enjoyed 6 on the table, but we loved having 10, we had 2 couples (mid-late 20's) and 4 single girls (early 20's) and we all ended up partying together in the nightclub and casino.

But i guess its what ever you are looking for. We wanted to party!!

Cheers,

Dan

Hi fellow cruisers,

 

I was reading another thread somewhere about table sizes and which size people thought were best. So I thought I would post here and get some Aussie opinions since this seems to be the only section Aussie's congragate in!!

 

Which table size do you prefer, 4, 6 ,8 or 10 and why??

 

I have had a 10 on one cruise and a 6 on the other. I found the 10 to be the best!!

 

In fact we had so much fun we looked forward to dinner everynight and were one of the last tables to leave each night, by the second night we were laughing and joking like old friends.

 

Now I have read in other forums that people dont like to eat with people they dont know and prefer personal choice dinning (something I'm glad isnt happening in Aus). I think Aussie's in general like the tarditional dinning and enjoy it, probably something to do with the our great way of life and how everyone seems to become "mate" after 5 minutes.

 

So give me your opinions and reasons why??

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

On my last cruise we had a table of 8- although we were all friends/family. On my next cruise i have booked a table of 8 and am really looking forward to meeting new ppl as i am quite a shy person. Hopefully will make for more entertainment

Hi Dan,

On our first cruise, our group of 4 was on a table for 8, but we ended up with 6 people as our table companions son who was going to sit in the main restaurant went to children's dining instead. That was good - we got on well with them it was fun to share other's experiences.

On our second cruise, again a group of 4, we booked a table for 8 at first sitting, but the Maitre D' was told that 2 of our party had cancelled and then rebooked (they hadn't), and they got moved to table of 12, where the other 10 people were one group, and we got put on a table for 2 on our own. To fix this, we ended up in a different restaurant, at a different (later) sitting and only the 4 of us. That was ok, but it would have been good to have more people at the table to share the cruise experience with.

On our next cruise we're a group of 6, booked on a table for eight in first sitting. With the group of us that's going, I kinda feel sorry for the other two people that get seated at our table. After our experiences with second sitting on Sun, where we never got good seats for the show, we decided first sitting is definetly the way to go.

Kym

Hi fellow cruisers,

 

I was reading another thread somewhere about table sizes and which size people thought were best. So I thought I would post here and get some Aussie opinions since this seems to be the only section Aussie's congragate in!!

 

Which table size do you prefer, 4, 6 ,8 or 10 and why??

 

I have had a 10 on one cruise and a 6 on the other. I found the 10 to be the best!!

 

In fact we had so much fun we looked forward to dinner everynight and were one of the last tables to leave each night, by the second night we were laughing and joking like old friends.

 

Now I have read in other forums that people dont like to eat with people they dont know and prefer personal choice dinning (something I'm glad isnt happening in Aus). I think Aussie's in general like the tarditional dinning and enjoy it, probably something to do with the our great way of life and how everyone seems to become "mate" after 5 minutes.

 

So give me your opinions and reasons why??

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

On our cruise earlier this year on the Sapphire Princess we had a table for eight.

We had a fantastic time...couldn't wait to meet up for dinner and then all go to a show afterwards. Our waiters were wonderful and joined in the fun.

I would most certainly have a table for eight again.

Marleneann.

We also had a table for 8 on the same cruise as Marlenanne. I agree its probably the best size although I did feel for the couple that were at our table. We were 6 friends and so we had the odd couple at our table although we did include them in all our conversations. It did make it more interesting though as otherwise we would have just talked dancing all night - we are all competition ballroom dancers.

Hi Marleneann, Long time no hear. Are you cruising again soon? We are doing a Pacific Princess cruise in December and another on the Pacific Sky in July out of Singapore. I have heard from Santa a couple of times on another board. - Gayle

Hi,

4 of us are going on our first cruise next Feburary on the sun and we chose the first dinner sitting and a table of 8 people.

We thought it would be nice to socialise/get to know people and have other company at dinnertime, that's why we wanted to sit with others.

We only got the option of choosing from a table of 4 or a table of 8.Our travel agent didn't mension anything about a table of 10.

He didn't really tell us much about the cruise at all which was dissapointing.

We also cruised on the Sapphire and did personal choice dining and on all nights except one dined at a table for two. This is our preference.

On our first cruise we dined one night at a table for 10 and hated it and another night I dined, without my partner, at a table for six and found that to be quite good... much better than the table for 10.

Given a choice we would choose a table for two since we cruise for relaxation and peace and quiet and prefer to dine alone. This is one reason why we like to cruise with Princess... so we get to choose who we dine with instead of HAVING to dine with whomever they choose for us. Different strokes for different folks. :)

Kim

I agree with Kimba 99 and find that I would rather dine as a couple most nights. We have been on four P&O cruises where you are told where to sit and who to sit with, and at what time. Last year, we went on the SuperStar Leo (now renamed Norwegian Spirit) where there was total freestyle dining. I much preferred the freestyle idea where you ate when you liked and at a table size you selected.

The first night we ate alone and probably needed the peace and quiet after a big day. On another night we organised to eat with new found friends at a table for eight, and that was great as well, and we all met up again on a couple of other nights.

On two of our P&O cruises we sat at tables for four, and one experience was very good but the other, we had this lady who just talked all the time about nothing interesting; every night. No one else got a word in.

On the other P&O cruises we sat at larger tables, and at one of them we had this guy who was always under the weather and thought he was funny; he wasn't. He was annoying to everyone else and embarrassing to his wife. Fortunately, the rest of us were able to ignore him to some degree, and on one night the rest of us were more under the weather than him - That was good.

I guess in summary, I would rather enjoy a meal with people of my choice, and generally would rather meet new cruising friends away from the dinner table. Then again, I don’t really care so long as I am cruising.

Although question was directed to Australians, I'll thrown in a perspective from the States.

My wife and I prefer a Round table for 6 - facilitates conversation. Rectangular tables a little more difficult, as you can't have eye contact with all tablemates.

We find tables for 8 just a tad too large to maintain conversations at normal volume, and prefer not to shout to be heard.

Tables for 4 we try to avoid, unless we are travelling with sis-in-law and her hubby, and then we usually don't sit with them, as we have heard all their stories!

I think 6 is ideal. But the six need to be from different countries. We have had great tables with Americans, South Africans, Irish and Canadians (we are from UK) But a table of Brits together has never worked as well for us. What I really need is to be on a table with some Ausies. It's the cricket cobber!!

David.

Hi there...yes to the question about cruising again.

My sisters and I are on the three day cruise out of Brisbane on the new Pacific Star.

I have been in contact with Santa. She is going to meet my daughter ( who will be on the west coast of USA as part of her holiday and Sapphire Mexico cruise) to give her some vouchers she doesn't want.

Well I still can't dance so I have given up trying. I guess God gave me beauty and not rhythm. *Laughing as if*

Hugs,

Marleneann

One of the Spangles

last cruise i went on we had a table of 6, but it was only 1 extra elder lady.. she was nice though.. next cruise there is 5 of us on a table of 8.. hopefully theres some nice boys on our table hehe.. nahh a table of more people would be so much better though:)

that is my fear as a couple, ending up on a table of 8 with a party of 6 on it... it is so hard to know what to do, especially as it's our 1st cruise. I have booked table of 2 - as had a fear of being on a table like above, or with people we didn't get on with. but now i have been coming on these cruise websites, i can see the benefit of larger tables, it is so hard to know what to do for the best!

that is my fear as a couple, ending up on a table of 8 with a party of 6 on it... it is so hard to know what to do, especially as it's our 1st cruise. I have booked table of 2 - as had a fear of being on a table like above, or with people we didn't get on with. but now i have been coming on these cruise websites, i can see the benefit of larger tables, it is so hard to know what to do for the best!

I agrre with you, it's a difficult decision particularly if you are first time cruisers (me & hubby). Then we decided let's meet some people, share some stories & experiences. We have changed our preferences so many times, now settled on second seating, table of 8...that seems to be the most recommended option from friends and travel agent.

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

Its interesting to read everyones thoughts on something that can really be a big part of your entire trip.

Cheers,

Dan

We are booked on table for 6 for the early sitting. We would prefer to go to the shows after dinner and then go on to the bars or nightclub. Also thought as there would not be many kids on board because our cruise is outside of all Aussie school holidays, there would not be many kids in the dining room for the adult dining sittings.